Ho hum

[erastes]

Done 4000 words this week so far, which I’m really pleased about, considering how difficult Dad has been. Talk about Jekyll and Hyde. I don’t know how much longer I can keep on doing it, to be frank.

I’ve adjusted my spreadsheet and removed the accusing six weeks of “you didn’t write anything” which meant that I was 40,000 words behind. With this adjustment, it means I’m “only” 8,000 words behind, and if I can manage 4000 a week, I’ll still get the book done. Then comes the real hard work—selling it!

Other writer’s productivity tends to squash me, as I’ve said before. I read yesterday that Josh Lanyon was writing a book a MONTH. How is that even possible? No-one can compete with that kind of output, and I suppose it’s pointless getting concerned that I can’t compete with it. I can only write at my own pace—aim for two books a year and when it comes down to it - I suppose I’m still faster than George RR Martin. LOL.

Doctor’s again today for check up about the progress of the Lisinopril tablets – my blood pressure is down (the doctor is the only one who says it’s high, btw—the hospital said it was normal) but he’s upped the dose from 5mg to 10mg to see if that brings it down further. Being the type that reads the small print for drugs I discovered he’s supposed to be monitoring my kidney function as well as my blood pressure. Guess if he is or not?

Comments

[josephine-myles.livejournal.com]

4000 words a week sounds great - I don't aim for much more than that myself. And like you, I read the Josh Lanyon post, felt faintly depressed, then consoled myself when I read that he's not enjoying it and is never going to commit to writing that much in one year again.

Sorry your Dad's being difficult, and your doctor is still incompetent :(

[shiawmeimei.livejournal.com]

Lately, I'm happy with 1k a week! I really needed the money of a full-time job but dayum! This 50-60 hours a week between work and commute really sucks!

And how long is a Josh book? If he's writing single title a month...just wow!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I don't know - I only assume they are novellas of 20-30k - but even that's hugely impressive - I know I could manage to do that, at 5k a week, but i'd be a nervous wreck and i don't think i'd be very good at it.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Just yesterday I told myself that I was getting so stressed with this urge to write more and faster that (a) I was no longer enjoying writing at all, and (b) my imagination was no longer able to keep up with the speed of my writing - leading to writing which was thin and undercooked. So I had yesterday off. That immediately made me feel better *and* started me thinking about the book again in a positive way which solved at least three problems I'd had with it. So I'd say that breaks and going slower are essential if it's going to be as good as it could be.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I agree - and listening to you at the Meetup, I think we both feel the same - the frustration at the fact that people are all seeming to churn out four or more "books" a year - and our flist is full of people's new releases, when you and i are more naturally longer novel writers. 2006 and 2008 and 2011 will be my novel release schedule - which isn' very speedy!!!

I seem to work well at the 1000 words a day - not really making 5k a week, but nearly.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

You always seem to be doing more than me, though! But yes, I've been looking at my pattern of releases and they seem to follow a one year off, one year on pattern, which is fair enough as the year when I don't publish anything is the year when furious writing is going on behind the scenes.

I am thinking that 150,000 word books are too big for me, though. It's hard for me to have that kind of staying power. 100K is much more reasonable.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

well, I've done a lot of novellas, but I'm not in love with the length - I think they are too disposible, specially in ebook only format, but they are a way to get more STUFF out there in quick succession! and my goal for the last 2 years has been one novella and one novel, and now I'd LIKE to push it up to two novels - we'll see....

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like novellas because they're fun and quick to write, but they're not really an event the way a novel is. All the same, sometimes it's a big relief just to be able to start and finish something quickly.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

I've written hardly anything since the office move, and I really want to get done with editing the last six chapters of Once An Assassin before the first of November so I can start something new for picowrimo with a clear conscience.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I hope you can get back into the groove!